National Healthcare Security Administration: By 2026, promote all provinces to open cross-province pooling of employee medical insurance personal accounts

The National Healthcare Security Administration released the list of key items for “Efficient Handling of a Single Matter” in the healthcare field for the first batch of 2026 on February 10. It clearly states that all provinces will enable cross-provincial pooling of employee medical insurance personal accounts. According to the previously issued notice on implementing cross-provincial pooling of employee basic medical insurance personal accounts, the scope of eligible participants for cross-provincial pooling includes close relatives of insured employees. The pooled funds can be used to cover personal expenses for medical treatment and medication, as well as individual contributions for resident medical insurance and long-term care insurance. As of early January 2026, 337 coordinated regions have activated the medical insurance wallet and achieved cross-provincial pooling. Additionally, the list specifies that by the end of 2026, 80% of designated medical institutions nationwide will realize instant settlement; at least one batch of centralized procurement of national-organized medicines and high-value medical consumables will be conducted; and inpatient delivery medical expenses will be directly settled across provincial coordination areas within the same province. The list also includes services such as direct payment of maternity allowances to individuals and cross-provincial retrieval of medical imaging records from key hospitals. (CCTV News)